WILL GHUKASYAN RUN A THIRD TERM?

Lragir.am
31 Aug 06

In an interview with the Azat Artsakh Newspaper Arkady Ghukasyan
touched upon the problem of the third term as well. In answer to the
question of a reader he said: "If you remember my election campaign,
you must know that I promised to promote the adoption of the NKR
Constitution. The basic law of the country, the constitution, is
adopted by people, not the president. And all through my presidency
I did not let people doubt that I guarantee the rule of law. I think
the presidential, parliamentary and local elections held earlier in
NKR assured people that they do elect the president, the members of
parliament or mayor.

By the way, you should know that certain international organizations,
influenced by Azerbaijan, react nervously to elections of different
level in NKR. In other words, many wish Karabakh did not hold elections
at all. But this is not our way. We are building a democratic society,
which is impossible without free and fair elections.

We need the Constitution, and nobody doubts. Moreover, we are a little
late with the adoption. The world does not stay in the same place,
and we must react adequately to the challenges of the civilization. We
must establish and confirm our right for freedom and independence,
our readiness to develop the best traditions of the international
community.

For me, so far I have never expressed likelihood to run a third term.

I think it is wrong when some people view the adoption of the basic
law of the country in the context of a third term. For NKR and its
people need the Constitution, not Ghukassian, including in terms
of international recognition. Even if we suppose that in case the
Constitution is adopted it will give me a chance to run a third term,
a number of important issues will occur, including my wish and,
most importantly, the wish of people.

Independent from all, till the last day of my presidency I will do
everything to settle the problems our country is facing. Certainly,
there will be people who will evaluate every initiative of mine
as populism, as an attempt to appeal to people. But it would be
impossible to do nothing until the end of the term because of these
people. Especially that large-scale programs are on the agenda we
have been attending to for a number of years now.

Besides, sooner of later we had to adopt the Constitution, either
during Ghukassian’s office or someone else’s office. By your logic,
a president during whose office a Constitution is adopted is doomed to
such doubts. Does this mean that we should not adopt the Constitution
at all? I would also like to emphasize that the necessity of adoption
of the basic law of the country is set down in the political platforms
of all the political parties and movements in NKR as well. And it
is normal because it proceeds from the logic of development of our
statehood."

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress